'Have-to' vs. 'Need-to'
In PA school, it is completely natural to be bombarded with demands that are disguised as being of the utmost importance. The first semester of school is packed with 22 credit hours. I don’t know about you but I never took that much in undergrad. You would think a schedule of 22 credit hours would completely consume your world. Well, it pretty much does, and the reality is that you will study every waking hour of every day of your PA education. There are no breaks in PA school. Really? No.
With 22 hours on my plate, I have noticed studying being a “Have-to” all the time. What do I mean? It feels like I should always be studying to not fall behind and learn this stuff. However, that instinctual obligation can easily drain the life out of me if I am not focusing on what I need rather than being driven by what I could do. Studying is very important, don’t get me wrong, but it is not your life in PA school. Your needs are your life.
There is a time for everything in PA school: a time to play, a time to work, a time to pause, a time to go full speed ahead, a time to love, and a time to be loved. One of the most important skills you will walk away with that first semester will be the ability to prioritize. The key to taking 22 credit hours is to be where you need to be in the moment, sacrifice where necessary, and listen to that still small voice within.
As students, we all need to study; that is a given. However, we all also need to take a day off from studying. How do you know what you need? I don’t know because I’m not you. We all have internal signals that will lead us to the water of life. The challenge will be to decipher what you need and what seems pressing.
A practical method of weighing out the imperatives of the moment might look like taking a personal inventory. It is vital to consider what gives you life. Is it exercise, cooking, or crafting? You will have time to do things other than studying. However, you will have to decide when you need to study. It looks different for everyone but it is crucial that you get what you need. In order to be successful in the classroom or clinic, you must take care of yourself and not be dictated by the task at hand. So, next time you feel that “have-to” rising to the surface, ask yourself, “What do I need to do?”